Purpose

In the nineteenth century, Karl Marx wrote that "a specter is haunting Europe-the specter of Communism." While the sort of Communism that Marx envisioned was in fact less powerful in the nineteenth century than Marx believed was the case, Communism was a potent force in the twentieth century. Indeed, by the middle of the twentieth century, much of the world's population lived under a Communist regime. The rise and fall of Communism in the twentieth century was closely connected to important events such as the world wars, the Great Depression, and the Cold War.

Tasks:

In the twentieth century, Russia (the Soviet Union) and China (the People's Republic of China) were governed by Communist regimes.

Answer both of the following questions:

What circumstances contributed to the Bolsheviks seizing power in Russia in 1917? What policies did they implement in the 1920s and 1930s under Stalin with respect to economic development and political repression? What impact did those policies have on the Soviet Union?

What circumstances contributed to the Communists taking power in China in 1949? What policies did they implement in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s under Mao with respect to economic development and political repression? What impact did those policies have on the People's Republic of China?

Minimum of 250 words, max 350